CDF-NY Health Policy & Advocacy (Learn More) Child Health Now! (Learn More) Covering Kids & Families Initiative (Learn More) SHOUT/SPROUT (Learn More) Heath Insurance Tools: Information and resources for New York advocates, community organizers and community members! (Learn More) Research & Reports on Health Insurance (View) DOWNLOADS: Testimony of the Children's Defense Fund - New York New York State Joint Public Hearing On the 2004-2005 Executive Budget Re: Health, Medicaid & Aging Presented by Melinda Dutton, Esq., Director of Policy and Research. February 3, 2004 (PDF Format - English) Summary of Governor's Proposed Executive Budget 2004 - 2005 (PDF Format - English) TAKE ACTION NOW! PROTECT NEW YORK'S PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMS! Click here. View The Impact that the Loss of Facilitated Enrollment Will Have on New York State Statewide : Downstate

HEALTH INSURANCE

Creating a Seamless Health Insurance System for New York Families
New York's multiple health insurance programs offers crucial health insurance coverage for millions of otherwise uninsured New Yorkers. However, the patchwork of programs is more complex than ever. Depending on one's age, income, family composition, immigration status, and health conditions, an uninsured New Yorkers could be eligible for any of a half dozen programs, including Medicaid; Child Health Plus A and B; the Prenatal Care Assistance Program, the Breast and Cervial Cancer Program or Family Health Plus.

Although these programs in theory work together to provide a system of continuous care for New Yorkers, the reality is that these programs have distinct administrative systems, eligibility criteria, enrollment policies and benefit delivery systems that cause disruptions in coverage for people as they move between programs .

Through this project, CDF-NY, with the Support of the Commonwealth Fund, works to create a blueprint for a seamless health insurance system that provides New York families and children with stable, continuous health coverage. Focusing on four specific areas for extensive research and recommendations (Eligibility Criteria, Application Procedures, Rectification and transfer, and benefits utilization) CDF has documented existing gaps in New York's health care safety net and their source in law or policy. CDF will soon release a report with our findings and policy recommendations for a more seamless system.

Making the Connection
It is well established that insured children and families have better access to health care, and often better health outcomes, than those without insurance. But while enrollment clearly improves access, CDF-NY knows that just having coverage is not enough to ensure that all insured children actually get the health care they need at the right time, or in the right way. There is evidence that some sort of "connection" to health care helps insured children and families bridge existing administrative hurdles, knowledge gaps, and other barriers.

Through "Making the Connection," CDF, with the support of the Altman Foundation, is working to improve the connections to care for enrolled children and families in New York City. We will document what we know about what works to "connect" families and actually improve their access to health care, and examine some of the available options, from a policy perspective, to encourage health plans, providers, government agencies, and enrollers to enable families to make better connections to care. Ultimately, we will develop specific policy recommendations and advocate for their implementation in New York, helping to "put into practice" some of what we have learned from all of our efforts to date.

Keeping the Connection: Promoting Seamless Transitions Between Public Insurance Programs
Sometime during the next year, the 2.4 million children and adults who currently have health coverage through Medicaid, Family Health Plus (FHPlus), or Child Health Plus (CHPlus) in New York will have to do something affirmative to keep that coverage. They will either go through a “renewal” process, or they will be required to go through an entirely new application process to “transition” to another program because of some change in their family circumstances. These transitions often play a significant role in families and children losing coverage. Through “Keeping the Connection,” CDF-NY, with support from the United Hospital Fund, is analyzing available data and policies to develop specific workable solutions to assure children and their families stay insured.

Access to Health Care for Low-Income Children
Despite clear and impressive advantages of having health insurance, it takes more than simply having coverage for some children to receive the services that they need. Families with limited English proficiency may need additional assistance, and those with chronic illnesses, disabilities or other special needs may need added resources to connect with the range of needed services. Adolescents also face special challenges to receiving appropriate care.
 
Through “Access to Health Care for Low-Income Children,” CDF-NY, in collaboration with the New York Academy of Medicine, examines experiences of uninsured and publicly insured children in low income communities in New York City to document their experiences and find out what types of supports are needed to connect families with care.